Buenos Dias!
I hope y'all are enjoying the snow and Christmas-y weather, because it feels like maybe September 1st around here. Definitely never thought I would get to the point where I would miss scraping ice and snow off my car, but I think I'm about there!
This week was good, nothing terribly exciting happened. We've just been trying to follow up with a bunch of our new investigators, and unfortunately not one of them so far has been reading the Book of Mormon or praying, and for the millionth week in a row no one came to church. Slowly but surely we're working with them to understand the importance of the Book of Mormon because, in reality, the foundation of our testimonies resides in the Book of Mormon. Because if that's true, then Joseph Smith really was a prophet. And if Joseph Smith really was a prophet, then he really did have the authority of God. And if he had the true priesthood of God, then La Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias es la iglesia verdadera! It's that simple! This week Sister Johnson and I listened to the Jeffrey R. Holland talk from the April 2009 conference called "Safety for the Soul" about the Book of Mormon. I would strongly suggest to anyone to go read that talk, or even better, watch/listen to it. It's powerful! I'm trying really hard to emphasize the Book of Mormon in lessons with new investigators (and with everybody in general) and not just use it as "Oh yeah and here's this book if you want to learn a little more." I just love the Book of Mormon. I could go on and on. It's the best ever.
I hope y'all are enjoying the snow and Christmas-y weather, because it feels like maybe September 1st around here. Definitely never thought I would get to the point where I would miss scraping ice and snow off my car, but I think I'm about there!
This week was good, nothing terribly exciting happened. We've just been trying to follow up with a bunch of our new investigators, and unfortunately not one of them so far has been reading the Book of Mormon or praying, and for the millionth week in a row no one came to church. Slowly but surely we're working with them to understand the importance of the Book of Mormon because, in reality, the foundation of our testimonies resides in the Book of Mormon. Because if that's true, then Joseph Smith really was a prophet. And if Joseph Smith really was a prophet, then he really did have the authority of God. And if he had the true priesthood of God, then La Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias es la iglesia verdadera! It's that simple! This week Sister Johnson and I listened to the Jeffrey R. Holland talk from the April 2009 conference called "Safety for the Soul" about the Book of Mormon. I would strongly suggest to anyone to go read that talk, or even better, watch/listen to it. It's powerful! I'm trying really hard to emphasize the Book of Mormon in lessons with new investigators (and with everybody in general) and not just use it as "Oh yeah and here's this book if you want to learn a little more." I just love the Book of Mormon. I could go on and on. It's the best ever.
One annoying thing this week was that as we were waiting to turn out of the gas station parking lot, some guy somehow did not see us (even though we were under bright lights and have a bright red car), or just did not care, and backed into us, and then sped away. Many calls to the mission office and the police, and a lot of paperwork later, everything got resolved. The only thing that happened was that the car has a dent and some scratches. It was just annoying because when it's the church's car, there are so many forms to fill out and people to talk to. So yeah that put a damper on things, but hey maybe the police officer will accept the Gospel someday or something. I don't know!
This week I finished the Book of Mormon for the first time in Spanish, and I know without a shadow of a doubt that it's true! I also know that the promise from President Hinckley that if you read the Book of Mormon in your mission language you will be fluent is true. I don't know if I'm actually fluent, but I can see such a massive difference between when I read Moroni 10 and 1 Nephi 1. Heavenly Father helps out His missionaries (and everyone else) when we put in the effort and demonstrate our faith! I've still got a ways to go with Spanish, but even in just 5 months I can see what a huge difference the gift of tongues makes, and that in truth, all things are possible in Christ!
Sorry this email is kind of short and not super detailed... We did a ton of things, but they're all kind of blurring together at this point. Next week's email will be better because coming up this week is a sisters' conference in Baton Rouge with all the Sister Missionaries in the mission and interviews with president. I also get to go to Baton Rouge to see the sealing of my favorite family EVER this Saturday and transfers are next week. Still praying I'm not leaving!
I love you all so much! Go build some snowmen and drink hot chocolate for me!
Hermana Sorensen
Sorry this email is kind of short and not super detailed... We did a ton of things, but they're all kind of blurring together at this point. Next week's email will be better because coming up this week is a sisters' conference in Baton Rouge with all the Sister Missionaries in the mission and interviews with president. I also get to go to Baton Rouge to see the sealing of my favorite family EVER this Saturday and transfers are next week. Still praying I'm not leaving!
I love you all so much! Go build some snowmen and drink hot chocolate for me!
Hermana Sorensen